VelvetSledge
Moderator
- May 24, 2007
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- #1
ESSENDON BOMBERS
It was only a matter of time until a better-drilled outfit took advantage of Essendon's slow starts, and Round 3 proved to be that day.
The Saints opened up a 34 point lead against the Dons in the first quarter, and it was a matter of chasing that down for the rest of the game.
Whilst the Bombers did indeed bring things back to level pegging early in the fourth quarter through two passages of Jye Caldwell magic, they had ultimately spent their tickets playing catch up, and somehow let the fast-finishing Saints score five consecutive goals.
Many would consider Mason Redman to be our best and most important player, but he had a game he would rather forget last week. Two 50m penalties leading directly to goals was the cherry on top of an extraordinarily poor game from the half-back.
The conversation about Dyson Heppell has become rather awkward, considering the performance he dished out last week. Missing targets 20m away, making poor decisions, slow disposal, and trailing behind his opponent constantly has certainly got most punters asking what he's actually bringing to this side. Do we continue to back him in? Brad Scott certainly seems to.
Nic Martin seemed to have worked his way into the groove he was in last season after a couple of mediocre games and finished with 27 touches. Had he kicked more accurately, he could have had a handful of goals.
Jordan Ridley and Jake Kelly were crucial as intercept defenders, and the result would have been significantly worse had it not been for them.
Who's hotter, Archie Perkins or Kyle Langford?
ST KILDA 14.8 92
def.
ESSENDON 11.8 74
BEST: Kelly, Ridley, Parish, Merrett, Shiel, Martin
GOALS: Perkins, Caldwell, Shiel 2, Langford, Stringer, Menzie, Martin, Parish
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GWS GIANTS
When you look at the scoreline and the ridiculous amounts of shots on goal that the Blues missed, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Giants were unlucky to have not been thrashed.
This doesn't tell the whole story, however, as this young GWS side stayed with the Top 4 fancies (
) throughout the game.The Giants had the door wide open in front of them in the 3rd quarter when the Blues entered their 50 fifteen times for only 5 behinds, but ultimately couldn't capitalize.
GWS kicked three consecutive goals either side of the 3QT break to claim the lead when the Blues were awarded a disgusting free kick in the square when Stephen Coniglio raised his arms slightly. This dissent rule is a mess.
Tom Green is a jet. Whilst he slightly had his colours lowered by Patrick Cripps, he finished up with 34 touches and 7 clearances in a hugely impressive display.
Josh Kelly was a welcome return for the Giants from concussion, finishing with a super clean 30 touches and a goal.
**** Carlton.
GWS GIANTS 9.10 64
def. by
CARLTON 9.20 74
BEST: Kelly, Green, Riccardi, Ward, Ash
GOALS: Riccardi, Hogan, Daniels 2, Ward, Kelly, Greene
ESSENDON EMERGENCIES: Will Snelling, Nick Hind, Andrew Phillips, Massimo D'Ambrosio
GWS EMERGENCIES: Cooper Hamilton, James Peatling, Aaron Cadman, Josh Fahey
ESSENDON OUTS: D'Ambrosio (Omit), Hind (Sub)
ESSENDON INS: Zerk-Thatcher
GWS OUTS: Hamilton, Peatling (Both omit)
GWS INS: Kennedy
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Sub to be chosen from the emergency list one hour prior to bounce.
We'll get the elephant in the room out of the way quickly; Heppell is playing, and whilst it's surprising to some (including me, yes), we should back him in as best as we can. He's still an Essendon player, and he had a rough game last week, but we should cheer him on whilst he's out there. Bizarre that we kept kicking it to Saints players last week and we've dropped our best field kick to the magoos, but oh well. Guess those on the selection panel know better than we do. Nick Hind is omitted from the sub bench and young key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher returns from a minor ankle issue.
Adam Kingsley has seen fit to drop both Hamilton and Peatling, whilst bringing back Adam Kennedy into the side.
ROUND 21, 2022
GIANTS Stadium
6/8/22
GWS GIANTS 14.12 96
def.
ESSENDON 10.9 69
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GWS GOALS: Hogan 4, Greene 2, Ward, Coniglio, Whitfield, Kelly, Himmelberg, Lloyd, Perryman, Bruhn
ESSENDON GOALS: Guelfi 4, Wright 2, Stewart, Langford, Perkins, Hobbs
GWS BEST: Hogan, Whitfield, Perryman, Ward, Coniglio
ESSENDON BEST: Parish, Draper, Durham, Zerk-Thatcher
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CHANGES SINCE LAST TIME:
GWS OUTS: Perryman, Hopper, Briggs, Bruhn, Preuss, Keeffe, Aleer, Peatling
GWS INS: Callaghan, Rowston, Buckley, Idun, Flynn, Stone, Daniels
ESSENDON OUTS: Hind, Snelling, Hobbs, Wright, Stewart, Guelfi, D'Ambrosio (Unused sub)
ESSENDON INS: Setterfield, Caldwell, Weideman, Shiel, Davey Jnr, Menzie
It's a tough few weeks ahead, so we'll want to get another win on the board before we hit that run of Top 4 contenders. Go Planes.
Bombers by 17.
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